Heaven knows, It's got to be this time.

Ian Curtis died 30 years ago today, May 18th, 2010. He was 23 years old. His cause of death? Suicide on the eve of his band's first American tour.

As the lead singer of Joy Division, Ian Curtis will forever be remembered by the music community. His greatness and his beautiful lyrics will always be found living throughout many musicians today and to come.

RIP Ian Curtis.


(His gravestone was stolen on July 2, 2008 and replaced later that month. One day, I hope they find who took it. It does not belong with them, but in it's rightful place.)

There's No Place Like Home.

There is something spectacular about entering a beautiful concert hall. Sure, the music is important, but so is the venue that you see and hear it in. Every time I walk into my favorite concert halls, the Melkweg and the Paradiso, located in Amsterdam, I get chills. The knowledge of how much greatness has walked through the doors and filled the building with every color of music is worthy of the utmost honor. I almost feel as though I should hold a moment of silence each time I walk through a new venue's door just to pay my respect to the magic of every musician who has blessed the stage. I have fallen so in love with music throughout the years that even the venue can make or break the best of musicians. I have seen shows in small underground rooms with horrible sound and have hated even the most favored of my musical obsessions, and I have seen horrible bands play in perfectly balanced concert halls, making them sound like sheer perfection. This transformation of music based on where it is performed is astonishing, and is something that continues to greatly interest me.

As I write this I am no longer in Champaign, Illinois. And as I sit here I have realized something incredible. Many people strive to attend a concert or perform a show at world famous spot, when really, every town has it's own remarkable venue. It can be a bar equipped with a stage and a decent sound system, or a venue large enough to fit thousands. Until recently, I've always thought I needed Red Rocks in Colorado, or a world famous place like CBGB's to experience a perfect show. The reality however is, that the best places in the world have been right in front of me.

Illinois has a vast collection of heavenly venues, and you don't even have to leave the comfort of Champaign-Urbana to experience them. Sure, Chicago has the House of Blues, the Aragon Ballroom, the Vic Theatre, and many more, but we have some beyond amazing places right outside our doorstep. First, there is the undeniably glorious Canopy Club, probably the most well known among the masses. This particular venue prides itself on the diversity it provides, so no matter what music you listen to, or what events you enjoy it is almost guaranteed that you'll find yourself experiencing the local treasure that the Canopy Club provides. This venue also provides an intimate experience as the largest room, The Theater, only holds a handful of individuals at 750 when fully booked. Then, there is The High Dive, which is known for focusing more on live DJ sets and local parties, including yes, even 80's nights. So if you opt for more of an electronic feel then The High Dive might just be your local gem. For open mic nights Champaign's very own Radio Maria is a restaurant with a twist. On Wednesday evenings not only are you able to wine and dine but you can also step on stage and try your hand at musical celebrity. With no strings attached, Radio Maria is a venue for local talents to impress and show off their well-practiced skill or even those just wanting to take a chance. And of course, there is also Cowboy Monkey. This venue is created for a mix of events and a mix of experiences. Most Wednesdays they present a Salsa night, calling for a night of sensual dancing and unique fun. However if salsa is not your cup of tea, this venue also features blues nights, local bands, and a remarkable amount of up and coming musical greatness.

Although there are many more that I haven't mentioned, these venues are the few that I have had time to explore in the few months that I have called Champaign my home. With such a large amount of amazing concert halls and music experiences I am certain that I will never doubt a small town's ability to provide me with the best concert experiences ever again. It is with this that I must add my apology to the great musical scene of Champaign-Urbana and of many other small towns in the world. I have realized now the beautiful venues that lie hidden in every town and hope that you are all able to do the same. Because, really, everyone here has been blessed with venues that will provide many of you with some of the best experiences and musical endeavors of your lives.

As published in The Prospectus and on www.prospectusnews.com. Written by Me :).
Photo from: http://www.debutanteclothing.com/news/cbgbold.jpg

Gears

I've decided to restart this blog and was looking over older posts I wanted to keep. This was one of those posts:

True music is that one beautiful moment that engulfs you, captures you, makes you lose your breath. You forget to breathe and have to sharply inhale when it strikes you. It is something so undeniably beautiful that you shed tears with every raspy sorrow-filled croon the musician makes. It is something fantastic that can capture you, make you forget everything around you except that indestructible bond between you and the song, you and the colors of music that wash over you. It can erase all your fears, insecurities and pain. My type of music is that which makes you powerful, makes it ok to be as sad as you are, as happy as you deserve to be. It is something that cannot be interrupted, repeated, or denied.

This was something I wrote the day after I met The Antlers. They have been such a beautiful inspiration to me recently, I couldn't have been more happy that I got to meet them. They played three beautiful songs in the WPGU studio, including a cover of The XX song VCR. I also got to see them play at the Canopy Club, a local concert hall, later that night. It truly was a perfectly beautiful day.